Buzzketball Central: Houston Baptist Huskies (1-3) at Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1) 7PM 21NOV ACCN

IT'S GAMEDAY!🏀 #BeatHBU 📍 Cassell Coliseum🕖 7 PM EST📺 ACC Network Extra pic.twitter.com/mIuHfFY9NP— VT Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 21, 2017

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: November 21, 2017 / 7 p.m.
Opponent: Houston Baptist
Site: Blacksburg, Virginia (Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum)
Radio: Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network
Talent: Jon Laaser & Mike Burnop
TV/Internet: ACC Network Extra
Talent: Byron Kerr & Mack McCarthy
Live Stats: HokieSports.com
Game Notes: Virginia Tech
XM Radio: SIRI 138

Can I get an Amen?

Buzzketball has now moved to 3-1 on the season, with a bounce back win over the first Huskies squad by 24. Now they face the second Huskies squad in as many games and are likely favored by more than they beat the first by. A home game before Thanksgiving though does have some pitfalls. Hopefully we don't see the sluggish brand of basketball that beset the Hokies against St Louis but rather the up tempo pace of the other three games this year.

The Huskies come to Cassell with a 1-3 record, having suffered losses to Providence, Belmont and Detroit Mercy (Yes that Detroit Mercy team the Hokies put up 111 on). The Huskies are giving up an average of 90 points per game so far. All signs point to a fourth 100+ point night for the Hokies. These two teams have never met prior to tonight's contest.

The Huskies are coached by Ron Cottrell. He has been the head coach at Houston Baptist for 28 years now. He is 469-364 as a head coach, with a tough road ahead in Out of Conference play. The Huskies face Tech, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, and Vanderbilt in their next nine games. Cottrell has overseen this program from being an independent to a member of the Red River Athletic Conference, back to independent status, and then into the Great West Conference and finally a member of the Southland Conference. As part of these moves they have gone from NAIA, to Division II, and now up to Division I. His teams have reached post season play twelve times and finished tied for second in the Southland Conference last season.

Defensively, the Huskies utilize a high pressure defense, resorting to the press and double teams on almost every possession. It doesn't seem to be very effective this season considering how many points this team is surrendering.

Offensively, it's up tempo, somewhere between Detroit Mercy and The Citadel in terms of pace. The surprising part is how they utilize their personnel, whereas the other two primarily ran a four guard and a big set and relied on the guards to do most of the scoring, this team concentrates more on the big down low getting the ball with support from the guards.

What does that mean for the Hokies?

The Hokies shouldn't have much of a challenge with this opponent. As long as they come out, hit the very open looks they will get, and win the battle in the paint then they should be able to win with game by double digits easily.

The biggest key will be to beat the press and make clean passes as this team is very active with hands up, constantly looking to turn and run. They are only turning opponents over 14 times a game right now, so nothing extraordinary there.

The Hokies and Huskies are fairly similar size wise especially looking at who receives the majority of the minutes.
The Hokies should be faster, more talented and have the advantage everywhere on the court. Rather than relying on the outside shot though, the Hokies should beat the Huskies inside. The Huskies opponents so far are shooting 58% inside but only 34%

This is another team that relies heavily upon its starters so if the Hokies can get the Huskies in foul trouble they greatly increase their chances of coming out with a win. Right now, four Houston Baptist starters are averaging 30 minutes or more a game. One of the focuses should be on their top scorer, who is also averaging 4 fouls per game so far. As a team, the Huskies are averaging over 20 personal fouls a game, so plenty of chances for the Hokies to work on their free throws.

Huskies Backcourt

Back to a perimeter shooting opponent in this one, even if they don't do it well. The Huskies are averaging 23.5 attempts per game right now. Their team percentage is a lowly 32% but still effective enough to need a defensive response.

Freshman Ian Dubose, #0, 6'3, 220 lbs has been an instant success so far while averaging 13.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.5 APG and 2.3 SPG. He is shooting 34% from the field and 67% from the stripe so far. He is very active on the defensive end.

Sophomore Jalon Gates, #22, 6', 155 lbs, will likely be the smallest guy on the floor but size relative to offensive contribution puts him near the top. He is scoring 12.2 PPG and 1.5 RPG in only 17 minutes per game. His minutes are limited though due to his short-falls on the defensive end. He is shooting 39% from outside and 90% from the line. This is the one of two that could really hurt the Hokies from the perimeter. He and David Caraher combine for five threes made per contest so far.

Junior Braxton Bonds, #30, 6'2, 175 lbs is the leader of this team. He is putting up 9.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 2.5 SPG. He is counted on to create offense through his defense. He leads the team in steals and turnovers forced. He can be a bit over aggressive though which leads to foul troubles.

Oh and their sixth man is Bill Gates (William Gates, Senior, 6', 190 lbs, 7.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG)

Huskies Frontcourt

Senior Forward Josh Ibarra, #44, 6'10, 235 lbs is the largest and most skilled big that the Hokies have come up against so far in this short season. He is averaging 30 minutes per game so far, while putting up 18 PPG, 10 RPG, 2 APG, and 1.3 BPG. He is shooting 56% from the field and a dreadful 58% from the line, so definitely a Hack-A-Shaq candidate. His issue is much like the Tech bigs, in foul trouble. So far he is averaging 4 personal fouls per contest.

Freshman Forward David Caraher, #5, 6'6, 220 lbs out of Chapel Hill, NC is a bit of a revelation for the Huskies. He is averaging 16.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 APG and shooting 52% overall and 38% from outside. He also is shooting 75% from the line. This guy, very much like Hayden Brown from the Citadel, could have a very big night against the Hokies with his ability to hit from outside while also being able to drive the lane. Brown went for 22 against the Hokies and I wouldn't be surprised if Caraher did much the same.

What to expect from Houston Baptist?

High intensity defense geared towards transition baskets. This team will crash the lane constantly with guards while regularly trying to get the ball in the hands of their two forwards down low who account for more than a third of the Huskies total scoring.

An outside-inside threat again that has troubled this Hokies team with their seeming inability to cut off players driving to the basket. A combination of layups and three pointers will keep the Huskies on the board.

So far things haven't really gone the Huskies way this season but looking across the board at their stats, they are equal or better average wise than their opponents overall so a course correction in terms of wins could be coming as they have hit the same number of free throws as opponents, have outrebounded opponents, have more steals, more blocks, less turnovers, and about the same amount of personal fouls. They give up and score 90 points a game on average. The only major difference statistically so far is in shooting percentage from inside and the line.

The Hokies

Run Houston Baptist right out of the gym in the first half and leave no doubt. High tempo, transition scoring, and beating their opponent off the ball.

Guards should be able to find open looks from outside while also being able to drive the lane or pass into the interior. This game could be a challenge for Blackshear, who will have his hands full with Ibarra down low. Buzz needs to find a way to provide help defense to Kerry down low or Ibarra will score at will. This could be a game where PJ Horne makes a big impact if Blackshear gets in early foul trouble.

I anticipate that Bibbs will be guarding Caraher when they are on the floor together to limit the freshman's impact on the game. Expect Hill to shadow Gates around the floor as well.

Highlight of the St Louis Game

.@HokiesMBB was on 🔥🔥🔥 from 👌 against Washington, knocking down 15 of 22 from beyond the arc. #MustSeeACC pic.twitter.com/pVtoZzuEQx— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) November 18, 2017

Hill on the perimeter or the return of Justin Bibbs. Seems like I am repeating myself, oh wait I am. Both continued with their excellent perimeter shooting. Bibbs went for 30 and Hill for a measly 23 on 7 of 8 shooting from outside.

In Closing

Very similar rosters that play very different games. The groupings on the floor though should look the same with a ton of guards and one "big man" down low but how they move about the floor and approach the ball are very different. One works it inside to shoot, the other looks to the perimeter to elevate itself over its opponents.

This game should be over in about the first ten minutes if the Hokies are doing what they are supposed to. Early foul trouble for Ibarra forces the Huskies into a small ball lineup that doesn't bode well when going up against the bigger bodied guards of the Hokies.

Last time the #Hokies scored 100+ in a season three times?? 1988-89Last time the #Hokies scored 100+ three times in the first four games?? NEVER 👊 pic.twitter.com/Gw6GkKybdr— VT Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 20, 2017

Hokies pushing for four games out of five to score 100+ points. I am not comfortable calling this one a laugher but as long as the Hokies don't come out like they did against the Billikens than this game should not be a close final result.

Hokies 107 – Huskies 79

Everything worthwhile is uphill.#MondayMotivation #getBETTER pic.twitter.com/7s0p1XH8WT— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) November 20, 2017